Footwear



June 18, 1940.

A. INGRAM FOOTWEAR Filed Feb. 10, 19:59

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ARTHUR INGRAM BYfi/WJZZZZZQT ATTORNEYS June 18, 1940. A. INGRAM 2,204,679

FOOTWEAR Filed Feb. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVEHTOR ARTHUR INGRAM BY fle/ AT oRnE Ys Patented June 18, 1940 FOOTWEAR Arthur Ingram, London, England, assign or of one-half to Herbert John Fell, London, England Application February 10, 1939, SerialNo. 255,563

In Great Britain February 14, 1938 vs Claims. (01. st-8.5)

This invention relates to boots, shoes, sandals and like articles of footwear. In correct walking the heel should be relieved of pressure and the main weight ofthe body. distributed over the whole of the under-surface of the foot including the great toe and remaining metatarsals. Footwear asat presentfmanufactured does not permit of the footfunctioning in this way.

The chief object of the invention is to evolve a construction of boot, shoeor like article of footwear which when worn will result inthe direct weight of the body being removed from the ligaments under the astragalus and transferred to the great toe and remaining metatarsals, the foot being thereby allowed to articulate naturally and perform its normal spring function; A boot, shoe or like article of footwear constructed in accordance with the invention has the under-surface of the forepart of the sole extending from the toe to a point just behind the ball joint and the under-surface of the heel disposed in the same horizontal plane. That part of the sole. immediately beneath the heel or OS calcis liessubstantially horizontal and substantially parallel with but on a higher level thanthe forepart of the sole, the arrangement being such that the metatarsals and their associatedjoints will be located in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane so as to receive a transference of the weight of the body from the astragalus and leave the cuneiform hinge open to allow the rearward partof the foot behind said hinge to lift in a natural manner and avoid downward pressure and displacement of the centre of the foot. The rearward heel supporting part of the sole thus constitutes a level heel base.

It is preferred that the rearward heel supporting part of the sole shall also lie parallel to the top edge-of the quartersand that the inside quarters shall. have a blow or pocket formed therein extending from justbehind the astragalus and terminating in front of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, so that aclosefitting draught can be obtained round the heel, whilst the blow in the construction of an article of footwear in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of same.

Figure. 3 is af ront elevation.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation.

. Figures 5 to 10 are sections respectively on the lines 5-5 to I0I0 in Figure l. p V 1 The last illustrated includes a forward porf tion extending from the toe to just behind theball joint and an elevated heel portion 2| constituting "a, level heel base, the parts 28 and 2| lying parallel or substantially parallel with one another. The last is shown fitted with a heel 22 the under-surface of said heel and the under-surface of the forepart 20 of the sole lying in the same horizontalplane.

The dotted line 23 represents substantially the upper edge of the quarters and the dotted line 24 a line joiningthe centre 25 of the. back. seam, with the centre 26 of the throat. if continued as shown in Figure 2 passes through thatpart of'the toe of the shoe which accom modates the third metatarsal.

The last from a point just behind the astragalus and terminating in front of the first meta: tarso-phalangeal joint is formed with an outwardly projecting protuberance 2'! (see Figures 3, 4, 6, 9 and 10) for entering a correspondingly shaped blow or pocket in the upper of the finished shoe, for minimizing pressure from the in- 39,

side quarter on the astragalus, navicular, inter nal cuneiform, first metatarsal and great toe joint, a close fitting draught being obtained round the heel.

The last is formed wtih aconcavity 28 see 'metatarsals, across the phalanges and terminating on the inner side over the first phalanx of the great toe, the rear portion of the outside form extending tightly. round the heel and under the ankle constituting with the counterpart of the inside form a bandage to assist in the retention of the rear part of the foot in correct posi- 50 tion, the remaining or forward partof the outi side form constituting a strap to hold down the portion of the foot over which it passes including the first phalanx of the great toe, to ensure the great toe being in position to take a trans- The line 24 ference of weight from the astragalus, thus ensuring natural movement.

In forming a last according to the invention the patient is stood upright on a horizontal surface and the shape of the foot in plan thus obtained. The block of wood from whichthe last is to be constructed is then taken, the horizontal under-surface of the wood being taken as the theoretical heel base. The forward or sole part of the last is then built up by adding material to the forward under-surface of the last until the sole portion lies below the heel base to the requisite degree, the under-surface of the forward. sole portion lying in a plane substantially parallel to the heel base but at a lower level and in the same horizontal plane as the undersurface of the heel used in the finished shoe.

Preferably, in the construction of a boot or shoe in accordance with the invention, the inside quarter is shaped with its top line out downwardly towards the back seam edge, the upper point of the back seam edge of the inside quarter being below, conveniently about A", the corresponding point of the outside quarter, so that when this edge is seamed to the corresponding back seam edge of the outside quarter, the inside quarter' has first to be lifted to align the said edges whereby a pocket'or blow will be formed, In forming the vamp, the inside Wing of the vamp is down sothat to seam the said wing to the quarterseam the said wing has first to be lifted so as to centralize the vamp and form a forward continuation of said blow in the inside quarter, the said blow including the forward continuation extending from just behind the astragalus and terminating in front of the first metatarso-phalangeal joint, the arrangement being such as to give a close fitting draught around the heel and by reasonof the blow minimize pressure from the inside quarter on the astragalus, navicular, internal cuneiform, first metatarsal and great toe joint and also to'give a tight draught across the phalanges to retain the toes I and joints in a horizontal plane.

, Footwear constructed in accordance with this invention is preferably provided with a metal shank secured to the under-surface of the inner sole and extending from the joints toa point just behind, conveniently about in front of the heel. The shank is formed with a transverse convex upper surface beneath the second, third and fourth metatarsal heads, so that the inner sole beneath such head has a transverse concavity constituting an anterior metatarsal support.

A heel for use with footwear constructed in accordance with this invention is formed with the surface of the base parallel or substantially parallel with the surface of the top piece so that the heel is devoid of pitch.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An article of footwear having the undersurface of the forepart of the sole extending from the toe to a point just behind the ball joint and the under-surface of the heel disposed in the same horizontal plane, the part of the sole immediately beneath the 0s calcis lying substantially horizontal and substantially parallel with but on a higher level than the forepart of the sole, the upper edge of the quarters being so cut that a line joining the upper edge of the back seam to the upper forwardedge of the quarters lies.

the upper edge of the quarters being so cut that a line joining the upper edge of the back seam to the upper forward edge of the quarters lies 1 substantially parallel with the heel supporting part of the sole, the inside quarters being formed with a blow extending from just behind the astragalus and terminating in front of the first metatarso-phalangeal joint.

3. Anarticle of footwearhaving the undersurface of the forepart of the sole extending from the toe to a point just behind the ball joint and the under-surface of the heel disposed in thev same horizontal plane, the part of the sole immediately beneath the os calcis lying substantially horizontal and substantially parallel with but on a higher level than the forepart of the sole, the upper edge of the quarters being so cut that a line joining the upper edge of the back seam to the upper forward edge of the quarters lies 'substantiallyparallel with the heel supporting part of the sole, the inside quarters being formed with a blow extending from just behind the astragalus and terminating in front of the first metatarso-phalangeal joint, a vertical plane extending from the centre of the upper edge of the back seam through the centre of the throat passing through that part of the toe of the article of footwear in which the third metatarsal is accommodated.

ARTHUR INGRAM. 

